Pakistan Shias continue protests across the country

Riots and demonstrations in Karachi on Sunday (AFP)

Demonstrations and protests were held in cities across Pakistanon Monday, including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.In Quetta, where the terror carnage took place on Saturday,thousands of Shias blocked the roads in a sit-in, and refusedto bury their dead. They’re making three demands:

That the army launch a targeted attack on those responsible for Saturday’s carnage.

That the army or security services provide protection for Shias, and insure that no more are killed.

That the government pass a law making it a crime to discriminate against Shias.

The Shias in Quetta made some of these demands after the horrificJanuary 10 terrorist attack that killed over 100 people. At the time,they ended their protests and buried their dead only after thegovernment had promised protection. However, once the protest ended,the promises were forgotten. It seems the most likely scenario isthat none of the demands will be met, the protests will end anyway,and another big terrorist attack will take place in a month or two.Dawn (Karachi) and Al-Jazeera

Sunni vs Shia sectarian violence may be approaching a ‘red line’

Sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims appears to beapproaching a “red line.” Currently, the violence takes the form ofsectarian clashes in Syria and Iraq, or in terrorist acts by Sunniterrorist groups targeting Shias in Nigeria and Pakistan. However,the most frightening scenario is the unrestrained complete jihadbetween the two sects of Islam which would cross state boundaries.This could occur by the gradual spread of existing clashes acrossnational boundaries, or more directly by a high-level religious leaderin either sect calling for sectarian jihad. Saudi Arabia and Iranserve as national exemplars of Sunni and Shia faiths,respectively. Both are historic centers to their faiths. However,Iran is the only Shia state with the position and real obligation toprotect and expand this variant of Islam. Thus, funding Syria’sregime and Hizbollah are seen as important not only for politicalreasons, but also as religious duty. This increases the chances of aEurasia Review

Hugo Chávez tweets a return to Venezuela

Supporters of Venezuela’s ill president Hugo Chávez were cheered onMonday when he returned from Cuba in the middle of the night andtweeted:

“We have arrived again to the Venezuelan homeland,Thank you my God!! Thank you my beloved people!! We will continuethe treatment here.”

for so much love!!”

nurses. Onward to victory forever!! We shall survive and we shallovercome!!”

Chávez will continue to be treated in secrecy, and there were nophotos of his return. The nature of his cancer has never beenrevealed. He’s unable to speak because he is breathing through atracheal tube.

Perhaps Chávez will make a miraculous recovery, but many suspect thatChávez does not have long to live, and that he is returning toVenezuela to spend the last few weeks of his life with his family andfriends. Deutsche-Welle and ABC Univision